The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-26
WIDE-AWAKE ARKANsAW
Colonel T. M. Gibson's Speech at the Kansas City Ex-
 position.
Some Wonderful Facts.

No state or territory IS compara- ble to Arkansaw in the attac- tions it offers to home- seekers. The exhibit of the products and re- sources of Arkansaw at the Kansas City Exposition, was by all odds the most conspicuous feature of that great industrial show, and has led hundreds of sturdy citizens from north and west to better their condi- tion by seeking homes in land whose generous fertility was so abundantly attested. The 10th inst. had been set apart by the management for "Arkan saw Day." and Colonel T. NJ. Gibson, land commissioner of the celebrated Valley Route, was selected as orator of the occasion. His speech, which we publish below, is faithful presenta- tion of facts, and should be cut out and kept by every one contemplating removal.
 The immense auditorium was crowded and Gilmore's band had just finished playing "The Arkansaw Trav- eler," when Manager Ryckman intro duced Colonel Gibson in the following appropriate words:
 "The special days at the exposition have afforded us much pleasure and instruction. They have permitted us to meet our neighbors in our own and the adjoining states face to face and to exchange views and sentiments, theo- ries and practical ideas upon all sub jects, SO that we have come to under stand each other better. They have told us what they produce that can be converted into industrial and commer- cial uses and they have told us of their needs; in return we have made them acquainted with the vast business ca pabilities of this city in every branch of trade. We have shown them the greatest system of railroads in the world, centering at this point and pen etrating every district of the entire southwest domain. We have familiar ized them with eur manufacturing re- sources and in other ways both so- cially and commercially. We have made them feel and know that Kansas City is the natural workshop and warehouse for this region for all time to come. This is Arkansaw day and it is filled with deepest significance. Arkansaw has shown all the world in this exposition variety of products in agriculture, horticulture and miner alogy that has seldom, if ever, been equaled in any exposition, by any one of the United States. They show us cotton ard corn grown on almost the same field; tobaccos, cereals, fruits and vegetables in endless variety. Iron ores, coal corundum, marbles, gran ite, lime stones, mineral waters, prov ing exhaustless resources, of the most valuable nature. The commissioner from Arkansaw, MT. H. J. Rodman, has not only earned the everlasting gratitude of Kansas City for bringing to our exposition this interesting dis play, but he has done more for Arkan- saw by one stroke than could have been done in volumes of literature de- scriptive of the resources of the state. On behalf of the board of management of the exposition it is now my pleas ure and privilege to welcome the peo- pie of Arkansaw to this city and to the exposition. And now, ladies and gentlemen, have the honor to intro- duce to you a distinguished citizen of Arkansaw, Colonel T. NJ. Gibson, of Little Rock"
 Colonel Gibson set forth in glowing terms the wonderful resources of Ark ansaw, which seem to be unlimited. He said:
 "I am indeed truly thankful to the managers of this exposition and on be- half of the people of the state of Ark ansaw, which have the honor to rep resent, do now formally extend to them their grateful thanks for the dis tinguished kindness and honor rem dered us in giving us day here with you, where we can talk with you and tell you of the many resources of our great state and of her wonderful capa- bilities and possibilities, together with her rapid growth and strides toward the leadership of the states which she so justly merits. am truly sorry that we were not able to make a more extensive exhibit of our products of all kinds here than we have, although what we have is good and will com- pare favorably with, if it is not supe- rior, to anything else of its kind on exhibition here, and we could and would have done so had it not been that we were making at home an ex- position of our own, and this being our first, and commencing rather late